Giannis incensed by Mario Hezonja's first-quarter step-over

Giannis Antetokounmpo said after the game that he's none too pleased with Mario Hezonja after the Knicks forward stepped over him after a dunk in the first quarter.(Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press)

NEW YORK – Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo did not hold back his anger when asked about a first-quarter play in Saturday's loss to the New York Knicks when Mario Hezonja followed up a dunk by intentionally stepping over the Bucks star, who had fallen to the court.

Asked if it bothered him, Antetokounmpo said, "Oh, yeah," and continued to say he would punch Hezonja where it hurts next time.

The play in question happened early in the Bucks' 136-134 loss at Madison Square Garden. Hezonja picked off a pass by Eric Bledsoe and sprinted the other way on a fast break. Antetokounmpo raced in hot pursuit, trying to block Hezonja from behind.

Antetokounmpo came up a step slow, though, swatting at Hezonja from behind but missing as the Knicks guard deposited a dunk. There was contact but no foul called, with Antetokounmpo going to the court in the aftermath.

Hezonja, who scored his only points of the game on that play, then purposefully stepped over Antetokounmpo's legs on his way to the other end of the court, riling up the sellout crowd of 19,812.

Antetokounmpo, who had 33 points and 19 rebounds, responded minutes later with an emphatic dunk of his own, unleashing a primal scream before aggressively brushing past Knicks forward Noah Vonleh on his way to the Bucks huddle for a timeout.